Journalist Michael McCord writes 'The Execution Channel'

Journalist Michael McCord's first novel "The Execution Channel: A Political Fable" had been building up for sometime, an extension of years spent as a political reporter and an interest in "the cult of Ayn Rand," he says.

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By Jeanné McCartin

seacoastonline.com

By Jeanné McCartin

Posted Jul. 20, 2013 at 2:00 AM
Updated Jul 20, 2013 at 10:28 AM

By Jeanné McCartin

Posted Jul. 20, 2013 at 2:00 AM
Updated Jul 20, 2013 at 10:28 AM

Go&Do

"The Execution Channel A Political Fable," information at http://www.the-execution-channel.com/

Journalist Michael McCord's first novel "The Execution Channel: A Political Fable" had been building up for sometime, an extension of years spent as a political reporter and an interest in "the cult of Ayn Rand," he says.

"I read her 35 years ago, maybe longer. I had a history professor that was a disciple. Plus there's my interest in politics. ...; Then in 2011 I was struck by two things."

And that's when pen hit the page.

First there were the threats to default on national debt; "Which I thought was extraordinary, considering it would throw American and world economics into turmoil."

Second was an occurrence during a presidential debate. The host asked Ron Paul if an uninsured 30-year-old in a coma should be treated. Paul responded, "What he should do is whatever he wants to do and assume responsibility for himself. That's what freedom is all about, taking your own risk ...; ." The host then queried, "Congressman, are you saying that society should just let him die?"

The responding cheers and applauds of a small number of audience members shook McCord.

"It just ignited a spark," he says. "All those things came together, contemporary politics exemplified by the Tea Party and 'getting rid of government.'

"So I took them at their word and (created) a parallel world where we do get rid of government."

McCord worked on the novel methodically for about a year, it was "torn apart" clarified and cleaned.

During the process McCord was surprised as actual incidents reflected his fiction. For example there was the Mitt Romney comment alleging 47 percent of the country is dependent on the government.

"That was already an integral part of my book for a character. I thought it was amazing," he says. "I thought I was creating this alternative future and its parts were coming into fruition."

The book's first chapter, available free online, raises the blood pressure — whether in concert or contradiction. It's a take-no prisoners, occasionally horrifyingly humorous indictment of his main character and a segment of the public.

The book is provocative, he concedes. "Let's put it this way, it's not meant to be tame."

A quote in McCord's upcoming press release captures his "firm grasp of the absurd sensibility that drives me," he says quoting "'The book aspires, as Lewis Carroll's White Queen so eloquently put it, to believe six impossible things at once, if not before breakfast then certainly by supper.'"

He hopes to be "thought provoking ... but entertaining. And I'm told by some that it is laugh-out-loud funny — humorous and chilling."

"We'll find out what people think with time, but I may be tapping into a zeitgeist. I can't say it was intentional, but I feel that kind of motivated me."

McCord self-published, using Portsmouth's Brown & Company Design. "I was sick and tired of getting rejections from literary agents that had no imagination and because self-publishing has changed dramatically," he explains. "I'd done a lot of research and knew it was going to be a tough road, but I believe I've written a good story and know people that are interested in it already. So we'll see what happens."

His first stop was "CreateSpace" a publishing site. Once the digital version is posted it will be available on the site and other online source. The paper book is already in hand, and available online and soon in local bookstores.

McCord is headed to the New England Authors Expo, and is arranging public speaking engagements, from local book clubs to major events, reaching out to "people that are interested and people that know people that are interested," he says.

McCord, of Exeter, is a West Coast native, raised largely in Las Vegas. He found his way east after the Army in the late 1970s.

"My parents had moved here when I was overseas. This was going to be a pit stop on the way back to West; that was 35 years ago. — I'm still here."

His military time was spent in West Germany in intelligence and public affairs, "and teaching officers' wives tennis ... ...and flying around taking pictures of generals giving medals to other generals."

He attended Keene State College where he majored in history and wrote for the school paper, his first journalism stint. He later became Keene State College's staff photographer.

He hit the Seacoast in the late '80s when he took a job at UNH as media director and instructor for TV advertising production.

McCord has been a full-time writer since the mid '90s, including four years as business editor at the Portsmouth Herald. Today he freelances as a journalist and ghostwriter.

And finally he's achieved what so many writers aspire to — completing the first book. McCord was motivated in part by a series of life-changers "(that) helped me focus on writing and finishing the book," he says.

There was a brush with prostate cancer in 2009. During the same period his father and younger sister died (2012 and 2013).

"I suspect it gave me some intangible fuel to take on the challenge of writing a provocative satire."

There's more to come. He's planning a play on Lyndon B. Johnson and a political thriller based on his time in Germany.

"There's nothing specific yet, no book title, but promising ideas to tinker around with, the same way I did this book. I'll set it up piece by piece and slowly," say McCord. "I think at 58 I've finally figured out my method."

For information about "The Execution Channel: A Political Fable," visit http://www.the-execution-channel.com/)

"The Execution Channel: A Political Fable" is available at RiverRun Bookstore, Portsmouth and WaterStreet Bookstore, Exeter, and soon on Amazon and Kindle Books.